Native cance carries Queen’s baton to Games

Squamish paddlers tap eagle’s spirit

THE CEDAR canoe lies low in the water. Ten Squamish band natives and a vast, invis- ible store of traditions and symbols provide the ballast.

By Kate Zimmerman News Reporter

It glides quickly toward the beach at Ambleside as the crew members chant and dip their beau- tifully painted paddles precisely into the water. One of the young men pounds « drum. It is 7 a.m. on Thursday. Despite th, early hour the group shimmers with energy and excitement.

For the paddlers, the Ambleside ceremony launches a two-week trip to Victoria and the Commonwealth Games. The event is an important initial rite, like dip:

ping a toe inte the ocean before a.

marathon swim.

‘About 20 people showed up on the West Vancouver beach to see the canoe off on the first leg of its trip, to the town of Squamish. But when it pulls into Nanoose Bay near Nanaimo on Aug. 12, the Squamish Seagoing Society will become part of the largest Coast Salish welcoming in history. At that point, the local crew will be given the Queen’ s baton to take to the opening ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games on Aug. 18

“in Victoria. -. The prospect of participating in such a public event is somewhat mind-boggling for 28-year-old skipper Klatle-Bhi. (Ancestral " names are used on such journeys.) “TI think we'll be seen-by 300 mil- . lion people,” he said. ‘That's only one attraction of many on this canoe’s voyage. “ When Klatle-Bhi speaks about what lies ahead, his language is ‘less practical than spiritual. Asked 7 when he might arrive in any partic-

ular place, he said, “We've got to go by the tides, We don't go by time, we go by the moon and the sun and the tides. ['m looking for- ward to losing track of time.”

He has been involved in plan- ning this trip for over a year. He and the rest of the crew have met six times a week for many months, not just to practice their canocing skills. raise funds and learn the songs they will sing as they paddle, but also to share talking circles, sweat lodges and cold-water baths. “We need to become close like that,” he explained.

On the water, he has to know that he can rely on his fellow crew members, and they on him. “It's a very big commitment, to be part of this group.”

For Klatle-Bhi, the opportunity to participate in this journey — for which participants will be unpaid ~~ was especially compelling. “I wasn't getting anywhere in life and this just grabbed me. It makes me fee] proud to be who { am.

The young people entrusted with the handsome canoe carved by Cedric Billy understand that they have a special task. That was made clear from the beginning, when the society put the word out that it was looking for participants. Those who signed up had to pledge regular attendance. They were expected to help raise funds and to remain alcohel- and drug-free dur- ing the training period and the voy- age. The exercise will take off a few pounds, but mostly the bene- fits they receive will be spiritual.

“There’s good healing power in the canoe,” said Klatle-Bhi. “Our body and soul become one and we become one with the canoe.” ~

Women and men are represent- ed on the crew in almost equal numbers. “The women are life- givers, so they’re considered to be

See Paddlers page §

Ehoto Kate Zimmerman

THE SGUAMISH Seagoing Society set out on a canoe voyage to the opening ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games.

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MAPLEWOOD FARM manager April Jofinson surveys the charred remains of a heritage home hit by arzonists on Saturday in North Vancouver. The house was slated to be the focal point

ofa heritage village.

N Van heritage house lost

Torched building was to be Heritage Park exhibit

THE HERITAGE house that was burned down by arsonists at Maplewood Farm on Saturday had been donated to the North Vancouver District by a North Vancouver family.

By Kate Zimmerman New's Reporter

The Carlisles gave the house. which had been located at Osborne and St. Georges, to the district. It was intended to be the first structure in the Heritage Park planned since 1991 for the land adjacent to the farm, which is owned and operated by the munici- pality.

Farm manager April Johnston described the house as a shingled, 800-sq. ft. (74-sq. m), two- storey structure that was built in 1910. The irre- placeable structure was worth approximately

The house had been sitting on steel supports in Heritage Park, awaiting placement on its foundation. An eight-foot high chain link fence surrounded it.

Johnson said the fire had spread to the fence-line running between the house and the farm and to the deciduous trees nearby, which were damaged.

Johnston was awakened at 4:30 a.m. Saturday by her Yorkshire Terrier. She was scared by the inci- dent. Even now, she said, reaction at the farm is “shock.”

But, she added, the Heritage Park area is an unof- ficial neighborhood hang-out and every year farm

‘workers have to stop people from lighting fires

there.

Johnston said the incident has drawn the district's attention to the need for greater security in the area. A new livestock barn at the farm will now get secu- rity lighting, for example.

She was encouraged by the performance of her dog and the farm’s watchdog, who both alerted her

$45,000.

to the blaze.

Accident sparks review of pond safety measures

From page 1

Labrador, but when they couldn’t find her, they reopened the gate

and the pond continued to fill..

Still, the area around the culvert was not cordoned off.

The pet was not found Tuesday night. The woman and her hus- band returned to the site to over- see the search at 5 a.m. Wednesday. The dog’s body was found Jater in the morning: It had been pulled through the intake pipe by the force of the water and shot to the other end of the pond.

According to Kusch, this is the first time an incident of this type has occurred as a result of drain- ing or refilling the Ambleside

Should the Montroyal connector be built to create a parallel northern route to the Trans-Canada Highway?

Laurie Levangie

North Vancouver District

Yes, This Montroyal issue is a local neighborhood problem. I'm tried of all the cut-through traffic on my strect.

Peter de Liesde

North Vancouver

1 disagree. There will be unneces- sary traffic with crimes of opportu- nity. Livability should be retained in residential areas.

duck pond.

The pond is rarely fully drained, he said. Tuesday marked the first time in a year.

There was a grate at one end of the pipe, but not at the end where the.dog was wading, said Kusch.

On Wednesday afternoon the parks and recreation department placed a grate on the outfall pipe to prevent a repeat of the incident.

A danger sign was also erected in the area, and Kusch said the parks and recreation department was looking into what else it should do to ensure safety. He has made a verbal apology to the woman.

The couple hasn’t decided what

to do about the incident.

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Saturday: cloudy with sunny periods with a chance of showers high 22°C, low 13°C Canadian Publications Mail Sales

Product Agreement Number 0087238

AN ATTEMPT to get the Montroyal connector on North Vancouver District's budget considerations for next year received immediate and emotional opposition from area residents. The connector, part of future plans for years, would create a new east-west road from Upper Lynn

Valley to Capilano Road.

Al Casselman

North Vancouver

Of course it should be built. [t's a focal solution to a serious problem. The phrasing of the question is ridiculous.

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION: How do you rate I[CBC’s performance in relation to claim settlements?

John Consiglio

North Vancouver District

No. It's now too late to be built. Spreading traffic around is not the way to go.